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Sunshine. Fly balls. Rolling hills. Sweet wafts of smoke emitting from a barbecue and a stogie-smoker behind the centre-field fence.

Welcome to Dominico Field at Christie Pits.

Welcome to the 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs’ Intercounty Baseball League season. It’s a special one. The team officially opened its 45th campaign at home to the London Majors on Sunday.

“This feels good. Yeah, brother,” Maple Leafs infielder Jordan Castaldo said as players warmed up under a beating sun prior to a 9-4 win over the visitors.

The team’s hard-core fans were out in full force, putting a smile on team owner Jack Dominico’s face.

“They’re No. 1,” said Dominico, who has run the team each of its 45 years. “Without fans, you might as well move to some other place in the middle of nowhere and have a picnic.”

And they are some of the league’s more passionate patrons, according to outfielder Glenn Jackson, who joined the team last season after a lengthy stint with the Barrie Baycats.

“When we lose, they feel it,” said the Toronto native, who grew up playing a variety of sports at the Pits. “They could be somewhere else, but they decided to be here. It’s special to us.”

The fans on hand for the opener said they love the quality of baseball, the atmosphere and everything else — hot dogs, green space, relaxation — that comes with taking in games, which are free to attend at the rugged old yard nestled in Christie Pits park off Bloor St., in the west end.

“It doesn’t get any cheaper than free, baby,” said 66-year-old Toronto islands resident David Smith, a long-time supporter of the team.

“It’s good baseball. It has got its charm to it,” said 65-year-old Wayne Fletcher, who made the trek from Hamilton and was hoping to fetch a few autographs from the former major-leaguers on hand — such as Ferguson Jenkins and Phil Niekro — for the opening-day festivities.

“To me, it’s the environment,” said Jean Gould, seated comfortably under a shade tree along right field. “There’s no pressure, it’s not super loud. It’s just an enjoyable afternoon.”

Kevin Hinton, the league’s elder statesman at 46, is seeing the park from the home team’s dugout for the first time after joining the Maple Leafs in the off-season. Hinton, who is entering his 27th season in the league, having previously played in Guelph, Barrie and Brantford, says the interaction and relationships IBL players have with their fans is unique and appreciated.

“We’re not the only game in town here, so it means a lot that they come out,” said Hinton, adding he has been “spit on and had things thrown at me,” over the years but the good has far outweighed the bad.

After all, if there is one thing fans in this league share, it’s a genuine appreciation for the players, many who play pro bono, while holding full-time employment and raising families away from the field.

“I admire them for what they do,” Smith said. “It’s not their livelihood. It’s for the love of the game. I have to admire people who put their Sunday aside and come out and do this.”

Damon Topolie and Jackson each drove in a pair of runs to pace the Leafs win, with Jackson and Rob Gillis providing home runs.

Six Toronto pitchers combined to scatter nine hits, with starter Marek Deska getting through the opening three innings, giving up one run on four hits. Reliever Brett Lawson recorded the win.

Next up for the Maple Leafs is a home date with five-time defending champion Brantford on Sunday at 2 p.m.